Abstract
Agricultural landscapes have always been influenced by the local climate. In this context, agrometeorology plays a key role in building decision support systems (DSS) to face the challenges of climate change, as also stressed by the recent Common Agricultural Policy (CAP 2014–2020) of the European Union. To make such DSS effective, accurate agrometeorological data, both time series and real-time observations, must be available. The chapter presents the Italian case: in the framework of the National Rural Network, the Agrometeore project aims to improve and expand resources for agrometeorology at the NUTS2 level, having established a national task force focused on stimulating resource sharing among and interoperability of agrometeorological services. As a first step, a survey on the main features of weather station networks and on data maintenance, processing, and dissemination was administered to each regional representative of the national task force. Survey results showed great heterogeneity among the networks. Based on national websites of (agro)meteorological services, an analogous analysis was performed at the European level. The results again showed great heterogeneity among countries. Participatory processes such as those launched in Italy could strengthen agrometeorological services and make them better able to meet challenges of the future climate in agriculture.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by the Agrometeore project (CREA-AA 5.3), in the framework of the Italian National Rural Network (2014–2020). Special thanks are due to Pasquale Falzarano; representative of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies; and all regional representatives of the National Task Force on Agrometeorology for their precious participation in the survey.
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Information About Agrometeorological Services and Networks in European Union
Country | Website | Agrometeor. bulletin/frequency | Interactive maps and data online/update | Forecast service and warning systems for agriculture | Further indicators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Albania | 10 days | ||||
Austria | www.zamg.ac.at http://www.phenowatch.at/; Funder of the PEP725 project | Forecast of risk of forest fires | |||
Belgium | Monthly Several data on demand for a fee | + | Yield forecast | ||
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 days | 7-day agrometeorological forecast | |||
Bulgaria | Monthly | + | 5–8 days and monthly agrometeorological forecasts operational assessments of expected yields for basic agricultural crops (wheat, oats, cornflower, maize, potatoes, vegetables, vineyards, etc.) | Soil moisture Irrigation advising | |
Croatia | 7 days | + | 9-day soil temperature and soil water, solar radiations, insolation duration and evaporation | Extreme temperature Duration of sunshine Soil temperature Fire weather index Drought index | |
Czech Republic | + | Weekly and monthly weather forecast | State of drought in the hydrometeorological situation | ||
Cyprus | http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/MS/MS.nsf/All/0176CEC0EF750E75C22581D4002A0FBB?Opendocument | Monthly | Monthly weather forecast | Effect of weather conditions on crop yield | |
Denmark | Not public (log in access required) | 2–9-day weather forecast | Soil temperature Solar radiation Wind Corn heat units Water balance | ||
Estonia | 5-day and 30-day weather forecasts | ||||
Finland | Free information by phone call Personal telephone counseling for a fee | 5-day weather forecast | Snow conditions Lowest temperatures Cloudiness Windiness Lowest relative humidity Probability of hearing | ||
France | http://www.meteofrance.com/accueil | Monthly Seasonal forecasts 6 months with multimodel approach | + | 4-day and 14-day weather forecast Seasonal forecasts 6 months with multimodel approach Warnings on extreme events Optimal windows forecasts for fertilizers application | Soil water content Drought indices Monthly forage production Water needs Cloud cover Wind Moisture Fire weather index INRA: Agroclimatic conditions in real-time, simplified water balance Agroclimatic conditions of the current year compared to past conditions for the most representative crops |
Germany | Weekly Several data on demand for a fee | + | 6-day weather forecast (for a fee) | Soil moisture under grass Soil temperature Water budget forest fire danger index Grassland fire index Heat stress in poultry | |
Greece | http://www.hnms.gr/hnms/english/agriculture/agriculture_html | 10 days | + | 7-day weather forecast | Relative humidity Soil temperature Sunshine duration Number of dry days |
Hungary | Data and analysis online | 9-day weather forecast | Sunshine duration Soil moisture Vegetation index Wet information | ||
Ireland | Daily data online | + | 5-day weather forecast | Conditions conducive to the spread of potato blight Forest fire risk Risk of frost Risk and prevalence of animal diseases Grass growth model Sunshine duration Soil temperature Wind Radiation Soil moisture deficit | |
Latvia | Wind Humidity Pressure Snow | ||||
Lithuania | 10-day and monthly | + | Decade until a month | Extreme agrometeorological conditions Soil moisture conditions | |
Macedonia | 3-day weather forecast | Meteoalarm warnings | |||
Moldova | Weekly, decadal, and monthly | Forecast of moisture reserves at the beginning of spring fieldwork Forecasts of the major crops for maturity and growing periods Forecasts of the expected yield of the major crops (winter wheat, maize, sunflower, and sugar beet) up to 1–3 months | Winter data and possible damage of winter crops, horticultural crops, and vineyards Data on extreme weather phenomena, impact, damage assessment | ||
Montenegro | 5-day weather forecast | ||||
Netherlands | http://www.knmi.nl/over-het-knmi/about https://www.wur.nl/en/show/Natures-Calendar-The-Dutch-phenological-network.htm | 7-day weather forecasts 20-day long-term assessment | Warning systems Wind Snow Expected ice thickness | ||
Norway | |||||
Poland | Daily data stations online | + | 7-day weather forecasts Hydrological forecasts Agrometeorological warnings | Humidity Wind energy estimation Soil moisture Evapotranspiration by EUMETSAT Land SAF | |
Portugal | http://www.ipma.pt/en/agrometeorologia/agro-info/index.jsp?page=texto-vinha-fruta.xml | Monthly | + | Water in soil Global radiation | |
Romania | Weekly, monthly, seasonal | Weekly weather forecast Recommendations depending on the weather evolution | Air and soil temperature Soil moisture for agricultural for winter wheat and corn crops at the beginning and end of each week Thermal index Aridity index | ||
Serbia | 7 days, 10 days, monthly, and annual | + | Seasonal weather forecast updated once a month CROPSYST model bulletin on components of water balance and crop yield | Moisture conditions Drought monitoring Exploitation of the irrigation systems | |
Slovakia | Monthly | + | 7-day weather forecast | Fire danger index Ground temperature Air temperature Air pressure Sunshine duration | |
Slovenia | Daily online information Monthly bulletin | + | 10-day weather forecast Warning on possible extreme conditions | Air temperature Soil temperature Water balance 5 days | |
Spain | http://www.aemet.es/en/datos_abiertos/estadisticas/estadistica_meteorofenologicas https://www.tiempo.com/ram/2764/la-observacin-fenolgica-en-agrometeorologa-y-climatologa/ http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/fenologia | Monthly Weekly | + | Seasonal forecast (3 months) Frost probability (daily) Specific forecasts or forest fire prevention and control | Water balance (10 days) Drought monitoring (monthly) |
Sweden | https://www.smhi.se/q/Stockholm/2673730 http://www.naturenskalender.se/ https://www.slu.se/en/Collaborative-Centres-and-Projects/swedish-national-phenology-network/ | 30-h weather forecast 10-day weather forecast | Lightning maps | ||
Switzerland | Monthly | + | Natural hazard bulletin | ||
Turkey | Monthly | + | General advice to farmers Frost warning system Harvest time forecast Suitable sowing time | ||
United Kingdom | Not public (weekly) | Weather warnings |
Appendix 2: Phenological information available from Agrometeorological Networks in European Union
Country | Website | Phenology and plant health |
|---|---|---|
Albania | Phenological information | |
Austria | 2 International Phenological Gardens Phenological network | |
Belgium | State of the crop based on satellite information; crop phenology; phenology calendar; flowering dates of cultivated plants or weeds | |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | Phenological network; annual phenological bulletin | |
Bulgaria | Phenological network Phenological bulletin | |
Catalunya | http://www.meteo.cat/wpweb/climatologia/el-clima-ara/fenologia/ | Phenological network |
Croatia | Phenological network Data of the phenological phases Assessment of growing degree days | |
Czech Republic | Phenological network 3 International Phenological Gardens | |
Cyprus | ||
Denmark | ||
Estonia | ||
Finland | 3 International Phenological Gardens Phenological network | |
France | Systèmes d’Information Phénologique pour la Gestion et l’Etude des Changements Climatiques (Phenological information systems for Management and Study of Climate Change | |
Germany | https://www.dwd.de/DE/klimaumwelt/klimaueberwachung/phaenologie/phaenologie_node.html | DWD manages the phenological network (1100 sites) 38 International Phenological Gardens Potato late blight forecast Current plant development |
Greece | Plant protection guidelines for farmers | |
Hungary | Phenological network; Plant Phenological Guide NDVI vegetation index | |
Ireland | Phenological network | |
Italy | Phenological network and modeling | |
Latvia | ||
Lithuania | ||
Macedonia | Phenological network | |
Moldova | ||
Montenegro | Phenological network and bulletin | |
Netherlands | https://www.wur.nl/en/show/Natures-Calendar-The-Dutch-phenological-network.htm | Phenological network |
Norway | ||
Poland | Phenological network; phenological seasons determined by indicator plants Automatic phenological observations | |
Portugal | ||
Romania | Information for one or more crops (barley and winter wheat, rape, maize, sunflower, sugar beet, fruit trees, and vines) NDVI | |
Serbia | Analyses of the influence of meteorological factors on the development, growth, and yield of crops | |
Slovakia | 2 International Phenological Gardens Phenological network Monitoring phenological phases | |
Slovenia | International phenological garden; phenological network | |
Spain | https://www.tiempo.com/ram/2764/la-observacin-fenolgica-en-agrometeorologa-y-climatologa/ http://www.aemet.es/es/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/fenologia | |
Sweden | Phenological network | |
Switzerland | Phenological network | |
Turkey | Phenological maps | |
United Kingdom |
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De Natale, F. et al. (2022). Agrometeorological Services for Landscape Agronomy: The Italian Case in the European Context. In: Rizzo, D., Marraccini, E., Lardon, S. (eds) Landscape Agronomy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05263-7_2
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